RAIPUR, 16 March: Following strong objections realised against a planned Polavaram irrigation project by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on the Godavari, Chhattisgarh today confirmed that the Centre has asked it to hold a public hearing on the issue.

“Union minister for forest and environment Mr Jairam Ramesh has agreed to hold a public hearing over Polavaram irrigation project after Chhattisgarh government strongly placed the case before him,’’ an official statement said.

It added that Mr Ramesh had reported the state’s chief minister Mr Raman Singh in a letter about the decision of holding a public hearing as the project will affect nearly 17,000 acre of land spanning over 20 villages in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh that shares its border with Andhra Pradesh.

The Chhattisgarh government claimed that it strongly objects to the project and will take up the controversial project issue to the Supreme Court as it is mandated to organise a public hearing under constitutional provision before granting approval to Andhra Pradesh to build a massive irrigation project in tribal area.

Last week too, Mr Raman Singh told the state assembly that Chhattisgarh government would oppose to Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram irrigation project “at all levels as it is not acceptable to Chhattisgarh”. Mr Jairam Ramesh has too recently objected to the Andhra Pradesh government going ahead with construction for the project without settling with the Chhattisgarh and Orissa governments the issue of building embankments.